Series B – Seventh Sunday of Pentecost – Sunday, July 11, 2021 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough
| Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough: |
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:28 | the holy gospel according to saint mark |
| 0:30 | the sixth chapter |
| 0:31 | [Music] |
| 0:39 | king herod heard of it for Jesus’s name |
| 0:41 | had become known |
| 0:42 | some said john the baptist has been |
| 0:44 | raised from the dead that is why these |
| 0:46 | miraculous powers are at work in him |
| 0:48 | others said he is elijah another said |
| 0:51 | he’s a prophet like one of the prophets |
| 0:52 | of old |
| 0:53 | but when herod heard of it he said john |
| 0:55 | whom i beheaded has been raised |
| 0:57 | for it was herod who had sent and seized |
| 0:59 | john bound him in prison |
| 1:01 | for the sake of herodias his brother |
| 1:03 | philip’s wife because he had married her |
| 1:05 | for john had been saying to herod it’s |
| 1:07 | not lawful for you to have your |
| 1:08 | brother’s wife |
| 1:09 | and herodias had a grudge against him |
| 1:11 | and wanted to put him to death |
| 1:13 | but she could not for herod feared john |
| 1:15 | knowing that he was a righteous and a |
| 1:17 | holy man |
| 1:18 | and he kept him safe when he had heard |
| 1:20 | him he was greatly |
| 1:21 | perplexed and yet he heard him gladly |
| 1:24 | but an opportunity came when herod on |
| 1:26 | his birthday gave a banquet for his |
| 1:27 | nobles |
| 1:28 | and military commanders and the leading |
| 1:30 | men of galilee |
| 1:31 | for when herodius’s daughter came in and |
| 1:33 | danced she pleased herod and his guests |
| 1:36 | and the king said to the girl ask me for |
| 1:38 | whatever you wish and i will give it to |
| 1:40 | you |
| 1:40 | and he vowed to her whatever you ask me |
| 1:42 | i will give you up to half of my kingdom |
| 1:44 | and she went out and said to her mother |
| 1:46 | for what should i ask |
| 1:48 | she said the head of john the baptist |
| 1:50 | and she came in immediately with haste |
| 1:52 | to the king and asked saying |
| 1:54 | i want you to give me at once the head |
| 1:56 | of john the baptist on a platter |
| 1:58 | and the king was exceedingly sorry sorry |
| 2:00 | because |
| 2:01 | but because of his oaths and his guests |
| 2:03 | he did not want to break his word to her |
| 2:05 | and immediately the king sent an |
| 2:06 | executioner with orders to bring john’s |
| 2:09 | head |
| 2:09 | he went and beheaded him in the prison |
| 2:11 | and brought his head on a platter |
| 2:13 | and gave it to the girl and the girl |
| 2:14 | gave it to her mother when his disciples |
| 2:16 | heard of it they came and took his body |
| 2:18 | and laid it in a tomb |
| 2:20 | this is the gospel of the lord in the |
| 2:22 | name of Jesus |
| 2:24 | amen all right have you ever heard the |
| 2:26 | phrase somebody has an |
| 2:27 | evil conscience it’s a weird one um it’s |
| 2:30 | kind of a |
| 2:30 | one of those archaic ways of putting we |
| 2:32 | say somebody has a guilty |
| 2:34 | conscience you think of um macbeth lady |
| 2:38 | mcbathroom and she’s |
| 2:39 | washing her hands out out damn spot |
| 2:41 | right you know and |
| 2:42 | so she’s got an evil evil evil |
| 2:44 | conscience and you’ll note that we human |
| 2:46 | beings because |
| 2:47 | god’s law it’s written on our hearts we |
| 2:49 | know that when we’ve run afoul |
| 2:52 | of god’s commandments and yet at the |
| 2:54 | same time |
| 2:55 | boy the the darkness the depth the |
| 2:58 | magnitude of sin |
| 3:00 | none of us is capable of wandering out |
| 3:02 | of the darkness of sin into the light |
| 3:04 | unless god well shines the light on us |
| 3:08 | drags us into his kingdom you’ll note |
| 3:10 | that over and again |
| 3:12 | scripture talks about the fact that none |
| 3:14 | can come to the father unless |
| 3:15 | well the father draws him none can come |
| 3:17 | to the son unless the father draws him |
| 3:19 | and so here in our text today we’re |
| 3:21 | going to note something |
| 3:22 | and that is is that god is graciously |
| 3:26 | allowing that good-for-nothing |
| 3:30 | tetrarch because that’s all he really is |
| 3:32 | that good for nothing tetrarch |
| 3:34 | king herod now he’s not a true king in |
| 3:36 | the truest sense |
| 3:37 | uh israel is not a sovereign state and |
| 3:40 | herod is not in |
| 3:41 | control of all of israel |
| 3:44 | he’s not herod the great this is uh one |
| 3:47 | of his descendants |
| 3:48 | and we’d learn from josephus that uh his |
| 3:51 | brother |
| 3:52 | phillip was married to this gal by the |
| 3:55 | name of herodias |
| 3:56 | and boy she was kind of one of these |
| 3:58 | gals it was really all about |
| 4:01 | well you know money and status and power |
| 4:03 | and things like this she’s kind of a |
| 4:04 | gold digger of sorts |
| 4:06 | and so when philip is divested of some |
| 4:10 | of his power |
| 4:11 | she no longer is really keen on her |
| 4:14 | husband and instead is |
| 4:15 | a little more keen on the guy who well |
| 4:17 | was invested with the power that philip |
| 4:19 | was divested of and all this took place |
| 4:21 | in rome they were in rome when all this |
| 4:23 | happened and next thing you know she |
| 4:25 | well you find her in herod’s bed |
| 4:28 | and he ends up marrying her while his |
| 4:30 | brother is still |
| 4:32 | this is the kind of stuff that’s like |
| 4:33 | daytime soap opera kind of stuff |
| 4:35 | you know what i’m saying you know we we |
| 4:37 | all see this like on netflix |
| 4:40 | and it’s the same stuff that goes on and |
| 4:41 | we should note that because you’ll note |
| 4:43 | that |
| 4:44 | this same stuff we all do this too |
| 4:47 | you know although we are not powerful or |
| 4:50 | wealthy |
| 4:50 | or we’re not people who have a lot of |
| 4:53 | status |
| 4:54 | that being the case well this is the |
| 4:56 | same kind of nonsense that goes on among |
| 4:59 | us |
| 4:59 | why because each of us is born dead in |
| 5:02 | trespasses and sins we still have a |
| 5:03 | sinful nature |
| 5:04 | and we uh how shall i put it we have |
| 5:07 | this amazing ability to want to make |
| 5:10 | everything about |
| 5:11 | me about you it’s all about |
| 5:14 | we’re so much like the devil in that |
| 5:16 | capacity and then you’ll note here |
| 5:18 | as we consider this that um |
| 5:22 | the emperor caesar is still in charge |
| 5:25 | and so this is all going to play into it |
| 5:27 | so i’d like if i if i could i’d like to |
| 5:29 | do a little bit of a |
| 5:30 | character study kind of a weird way to |
| 5:32 | put it between um |
| 5:34 | this tetrarch who has delusions of |
| 5:37 | grandeur |
| 5:38 | that thinks he has power that he doesn’t |
| 5:40 | and consider the fact that god was |
| 5:42 | gracious and merciful because what was |
| 5:43 | the purpose of john the baptist ministry |
| 5:47 | to prepare the way of Christ to make |
| 5:50 | paths straight |
| 5:51 | and we can tell by the fact that herod |
| 5:53 | and herodias |
| 5:54 | and this dirty dancing little girl |
| 5:56 | whoever she was that uh she |
| 5:59 | uh that i think her name was salome |
| 6:01 | that’s what josephus says her name is |
| 6:03 | that uh that well god wanted them to |
| 6:06 | repent as well |
| 6:08 | and they got to hear the preaching of |
| 6:10 | john the baptist |
| 6:11 | as the precursor of Christ so the story |
| 6:13 | goes like this king herod |
| 6:15 | heard of Jesus Jesus name had become |
| 6:17 | known |
| 6:19 | and some said john the baptist has been |
| 6:21 | raised from the dead i always like to |
| 6:22 | point this out since |
| 6:23 | when did jews become reincarnationists |
| 6:26 | this |
| 6:26 | is bizarre here they cannot deny what |
| 6:30 | Jesus is doing |
| 6:31 | Jesus is healing the sick he’s cleansing |
| 6:34 | lepers he’s forgiving sins he’s giving |
| 6:38 | the ability for those who are paralytics |
| 6:40 | to walk |
| 6:41 | and you’ll see later in the gospel of |
| 6:43 | mark that he’s even going to raise |
| 6:44 | people from the dead he’s freeing people |
| 6:46 | from demons casting them out |
| 6:48 | and in all of the history of israel and |
| 6:51 | all of |
| 6:51 | from moses all the way through all the |
| 6:53 | prophets no one has done |
| 6:55 | more miraculous signs than Christ |
| 6:58 | the next person under him would be like |
| 7:00 | moses but |
| 7:02 | that being said everybody knows that |
| 7:04 | something is a foot |
| 7:06 | and they’re trying to put two and two |
| 7:08 | together and here’s the depth and the |
| 7:09 | magnitude of sin |
| 7:11 | despite the fact that the uh the answer |
| 7:13 | is obvious |
| 7:14 | they still can’t see it |
| 7:17 | the answer is obvious Jesus is the |
| 7:19 | promised messiah he’s the one |
| 7:21 | moses prophesied about he’s the one all |
| 7:23 | the prophets told us was coming |
| 7:25 | he’s here now john the baptist he’s the |
| 7:28 | one who prepared the way |
| 7:29 | and they’re scratching their head going |
| 7:31 | well maybe reincarnation’s a thing |
| 7:34 | no reincarnation is not a thing |
| 7:38 | he is not he’s not elijah |
| 7:41 | he’s not john the baptist raised from |
| 7:43 | the dead |
| 7:45 | well the people who were saying well |
| 7:46 | he’s a prophet they’re a little bit |
| 7:48 | closer just |
| 7:50 | just a little bit closer think of it |
| 7:51 | this way you ever play that game with |
| 7:53 | your kids or |
| 7:53 | you had this game played with you when |
| 7:55 | you were a kid your parent one of your |
| 7:56 | parents hid something and |
| 7:58 | you had to go hunting for it and they’d |
| 8:00 | say oh you’re cold oh you’re freezing oh |
| 8:02 | man it’s a blizzard in here and then you |
| 8:04 | turn direction they go |
| 8:05 | getting warmer get more oh you’re |
| 8:07 | burning up it’s hot lava right |
| 8:09 | see the folks who are sitting well maybe |
| 8:11 | he’s a prophet at least they’re |
| 8:13 | warm all right but they still can’t put |
| 8:15 | it together and that’s the thing |
| 8:17 | remember that in the gospel of matthew |
| 8:20 | when |
| 8:21 | Jesus asks his disciples who do people |
| 8:24 | say that i am we got these same |
| 8:26 | responses Jesus turns it right down to |
| 8:29 | them and says who do you say that i am |
| 8:31 | of course peter says you’re the Christ |
| 8:33 | the son of the living god and what does |
| 8:35 | Jesus say |
| 8:36 | blessed are you simon barjona for flesh |
| 8:38 | and blood has not revealed this to you |
| 8:40 | but my father who is in heaven and so |
| 8:43 | here you have all these people |
| 8:44 | scratching their heads going what what’s |
| 8:46 | going on here |
| 8:48 | and what what’s missing they’re not |
| 8:50 | reading and understanding the biblical |
| 8:52 | text they’re not |
| 8:53 | hearing the word of god otherwise the |
| 8:55 | answer is obvious |
| 8:56 | and we all all of us can talk about all |
| 8:59 | the different ways |
| 9:00 | we’ve lived our lives in darkness and in |
| 9:02 | confusion |
| 9:04 | and because we do not recognize the |
| 9:06 | centrality of who Christ is and what |
| 9:08 | he’s done for us |
| 9:09 | we’ve even read the bible and twisted it |
| 9:12 | up and misunderstood it and missed the |
| 9:14 | obvious that was going on there we’re |
| 9:16 | all guilty of this |
| 9:17 | so herod heard this john whom i beheaded |
| 9:22 | has been raised from the dead out out |
| 9:24 | damn spot |
| 9:26 | right that’s what’s going on here |
| 9:29 | now on the one hand we can say ah this |
| 9:32 | is good that he’s |
| 9:33 | feeling guilt for his sin but there’s no |
| 9:37 | account |
| 9:37 | of him coming to Christ |
| 9:40 | and being absolved of the sin john the |
| 9:43 | baptist prepared the way |
| 9:45 | and see we learn more of the story if it |
| 9:48 | was herod who had sent |
| 9:50 | and seized john bound him in prison for |
| 9:53 | the sake of herodias his brother |
| 9:55 | philip’s wife |
| 9:56 | because he had married her john had been |
| 9:59 | saying |
| 9:59 | to herod it’s not lawful for you to have |
| 10:02 | your brother’s wife |
| 10:04 | now was john a respecter of persons no |
| 10:07 | not at all |
| 10:08 | in fact everybody who came to hear john |
| 10:10 | preached |
| 10:11 | oh boy yeah they were told in no |
| 10:14 | uncertain terms that they needed to what |
| 10:16 | repent they need to make their paths |
| 10:18 | straight they |
| 10:20 | the one who was coming after him was |
| 10:21 | greater than he and so |
| 10:23 | john he he preached the law just |
| 10:26 | with all of its ferocity |
| 10:29 | and nobody was left out in that |
| 10:31 | preaching not |
| 10:33 | even herod and so you can see john |
| 10:36 | we don’t know the occasion but the text |
| 10:38 | actually says john had been saying to |
| 10:41 | herod |
| 10:41 | and the implication here is is that he |
| 10:44 | may have said this on more than one |
| 10:45 | occasion |
| 10:46 | you know there’s maybe uh herod |
| 10:49 | in herodias out amongst the the the |
| 10:52 | unwashed masses of probably being |
| 10:54 | carried on a litter or something right |
| 10:56 | you know living in luxury and there’s |
| 10:58 | john spits a grasshopper leg out on the |
| 11:01 | ground says it’s not right for you to |
| 11:02 | have your brother’s wife |
| 11:04 | you need to repent the one coming after |
| 11:07 | me is going to |
| 11:07 | throw you into the fires of hell right |
| 11:10 | you |
| 11:10 | and and and herod hears this |
| 11:14 | herod hears this and he’s kind of |
| 11:15 | perplexed by it and herodias goes |
| 11:18 | is that man saying i’m a sinner yes |
| 11:22 | have you ever talked have you ever had |
| 11:24 | that kind like that awkward moment like |
| 11:26 | you’re telling somebody about your |
| 11:27 | Christian faith and what Jesus |
| 11:29 | has done and the light goes on and |
| 11:31 | somebody says are you saying i’m a |
| 11:32 | sinner |
| 11:34 | yeah yeah you’re getting it the light’s |
| 11:37 | going on good for you |
| 11:39 | okay that’s the purpose of the law by |
| 11:41 | the way the law was given to |
| 11:43 | show us that we’re sinners and to end it |
| 11:46 | well shut us up |
| 11:47 | also that’s what romans 3 says so you’re |
| 11:50 | you’re making progress here but no |
| 11:53 | this is important we cannot understand |
| 11:56 | and appreciate or even believe the |
| 11:58 | gospel |
| 11:59 | until we first recognize uh oh |
| 12:03 | we are subject to the wrath of god |
| 12:06 | for sins that we’ve committed that we’re |
| 12:09 | not |
| 12:10 | good people let’s get that out of our |
| 12:12 | heads all right |
| 12:13 | always and again it just annoys me when |
| 12:15 | someone says well you know i’m a good |
| 12:16 | person |
| 12:17 | i pay my taxes you know i even |
| 12:20 | gave money to the rotary club last year |
| 12:22 | when they were sending people around |
| 12:24 | really okay and i’ve never been to |
| 12:26 | prison yeah like that’s the |
| 12:27 | that’s the proof that you’re a good |
| 12:28 | person okay there’s a lot of people who |
| 12:31 | should be in prison who’ve never been |
| 12:33 | okay let’s just be blunt about that but |
| 12:36 | all of that being said scripture is |
| 12:37 | clear none |
| 12:38 | is righteous not you not me not herod |
| 12:41 | not herodius and not there |
| 12:43 | not her daughter so herodias now |
| 12:46 | bears a grudge all right because john |
| 12:49 | had been saying |
| 12:50 | you it’s not lawful for you to have your |
| 12:52 | brother’s wife so she bore a grudge |
| 12:54 | against him and wanted to put him to |
| 12:56 | death ah let’s see we’re going to use |
| 12:58 | the power that we’ve been given the |
| 13:00 | authority that we’ve been given by |
| 13:01 | caesar |
| 13:02 | in order to murder people is that what |
| 13:05 | the state exists |
| 13:07 | to do do any people have the right |
| 13:10 | whether they are elected officials or |
| 13:12 | appointed officials |
| 13:14 | to break the commandment thou shalt not |
| 13:17 | murder |
| 13:18 | none none in fact god’s word is clear |
| 13:22 | that in order for somebody to experience |
| 13:24 | capital punishment |
| 13:25 | there has to actually be a real trial |
| 13:28 | there has to be |
| 13:29 | charges they have to be established and |
| 13:31 | a capital crime |
| 13:32 | has to be proven to have been committed |
| 13:36 | what’s his capital crime well he |
| 13:38 | offended me |
| 13:39 | he hurt my feelings right is anything |
| 13:42 | different today |
| 13:44 | no and you’re gonna note you’re to note |
| 13:47 | we |
| 13:48 | Christians are starting to feel the heat |
| 13:49 | a little bit you say some things on |
| 13:51 | |
| 13:52 | oh guess what happens to you your |
| 13:54 | twitter account disappears |
| 13:56 | same thing on facebook i was informed by |
| 13:58 | facebook like a week ago |
| 14:00 | that i may have been subjected to well |
| 14:03 | hate speech you know i had no idea |
| 14:08 | is it was it you bruce okay |
| 14:11 | all right but uh i want you to know that |
| 14:13 | facebook gave me the opportunity to turn |
| 14:15 | you in |
| 14:16 | and i declined |
| 14:20 | but i was surprised i logged into |
| 14:22 | facebook you may have been exposed |
| 14:24 | you know and we have people that can |
| 14:26 | counsel you and help you here |
| 14:28 | all right let’s make this clear when god |
| 14:31 | says you’re a sinner and |
| 14:34 | be damned to hell that’s not hate speech |
| 14:37 | that’s the verdict of the judge of the |
| 14:39 | earth and it doesn’t matter if you like |
| 14:42 | it |
| 14:42 | or if it feel good it’s not meant to |
| 14:44 | make you feel good |
| 14:46 | it’s meant to wake you up and to make |
| 14:49 | you say |
| 14:50 | holy smokes i’m in deep trouble here |
| 14:54 | because you are and so am i |
| 14:58 | coming to grips with the fact that we |
| 14:59 | are sinners is not something that’s |
| 15:01 | going to make you feel like rainbows |
| 15:02 | lollipops and unicorns |
| 15:05 | it’s going to make you feel like well |
| 15:07 | the noose is around your neck and the |
| 15:09 | fires of hell have been kindled under |
| 15:11 | your feet |
| 15:14 | because they have |
| 15:17 | but the story never ends there |
| 15:21 | because Christ is on the scene here |
| 15:24 | Jesus is performing miracles the murmurs |
| 15:27 | are out |
| 15:27 | aslan’s afoot you kind of get the idea |
| 15:31 | right |
| 15:32 | all right so herodias borma grudge |
| 15:35 | she couldn’t do anything because herod |
| 15:37 | feared john |
| 15:38 | knowing that he was a righteous and a |
| 15:40 | holy man he kept him safe |
| 15:42 | and when he heard him he was greatly |
| 15:44 | perplexed and yet he heard him gladly |
| 15:46 | i’d like to point this out to the |
| 15:48 | calvinist yes god’s grace is resistable |
| 15:52 | okay because there’s there’s herod |
| 15:55 | hearing the words of john the baptist |
| 15:59 | and he’s going i’m i love what i’m |
| 16:02 | hearing here and i’m perplexed about it |
| 16:04 | yet i’m not gonna repent okay |
| 16:09 | resistable indeed all right |
| 16:12 | so persisting in his sin herodias now |
| 16:16 | well nursing a murderous grudge have you |
| 16:19 | ever noticed how murder and adultery go |
| 16:20 | together |
| 16:22 | it’s like they’re twins or something all |
| 16:24 | right you know my wife watches that csi |
| 16:26 | stuff every time i come downstairs and |
| 16:28 | she’s got her ipad open and she’s |
| 16:29 | cooking and she’s got csi on it’s like |
| 16:31 | yo you always hear about some poor |
| 16:33 | fellow you know whose body was found two |
| 16:35 | states over |
| 16:36 | the first person they want to talk to |
| 16:38 | when that happens is you talk to the |
| 16:40 | living spouse |
| 16:41 | okay always a person of interest i |
| 16:43 | wonder why |
| 16:44 | okay murder and adultery just always |
| 16:47 | seem to go together |
| 16:48 | so here’s what happens on herod’s |
| 16:51 | birthday he gave a banquet |
| 16:52 | for his nobles and military commanders |
| 16:55 | and the leading men of galilee |
| 16:57 | oh let’s have a birthday that y’all can |
| 16:58 | celebrate how important i am |
| 17:00 | right and look at the complete vanity of |
| 17:03 | this buffoon |
| 17:04 | so when herodius’s daughter came in and |
| 17:06 | danced and by the way when you read the |
| 17:08 | church fathers on this |
| 17:09 | they are not keen on this particular |
| 17:11 | dance because they know how the culture |
| 17:13 | works |
| 17:14 | back in the day it was absolutely |
| 17:16 | scandalous that somebody who is a |
| 17:18 | daughter |
| 17:19 | of well royalty a tetrarch a |
| 17:23 | king a governor that’s the high class |
| 17:25 | here that’s |
| 17:26 | at the top of the pyramid type of stuff |
| 17:29 | that |
| 17:29 | that she would dance puts her down |
| 17:32 | down down down down among the scandalous |
| 17:35 | women and the uh |
| 17:36 | the unwashed masses and so here this |
| 17:39 | would been scandalous on its face |
| 17:41 | and the church fathers revealed that to |
| 17:43 | us so we can kind of translate it this |
| 17:44 | way |
| 17:45 | she did some dirty dancing right |
| 17:48 | because that’s what’s going on here this |
| 17:51 | and |
| 17:51 | and of course all the guys loved it yeah |
| 17:55 | that do that again right that’s what’s |
| 17:58 | going on and herod was so pleased by it |
| 18:01 | never listening to the word of god right |
| 18:04 | so |
| 18:05 | the king said to the girl ask me for |
| 18:07 | whatever you wish and i will give it to |
| 18:08 | you |
| 18:09 | and he vowed to her whatever you ask me |
| 18:11 | i will give you up to half of my kingdom |
| 18:13 | wait a second here um he’s a tetrarch |
| 18:17 | do you think he could give away |
| 18:20 | anything regarding no no so what’s he |
| 18:24 | doing he’s putting on |
| 18:25 | errors this is just complete straight |
| 18:27 | out narcissistic |
| 18:28 | delusion you think you think that |
| 18:31 | caesar’s gonna go okay yeah sure she can |
| 18:34 | have half the |
| 18:35 | you know half of your no that’s not |
| 18:36 | gonna work it just isn’t so he’s making |
| 18:39 | promises he can’t keep |
| 18:41 | and vows that he’s not able to fulfill |
| 18:45 | because what does he want he wants his |
| 18:47 | guests to think how important how |
| 18:49 | amazing how magnanimous he is and no |
| 18:52 | he’s none of the above |
| 18:54 | so whatever you ask me i’ll give up to |
| 18:56 | half of my kingdom so she went out |
| 18:58 | and said to her mother you could just |
| 18:59 | see her just going mumzy what should i |
| 19:02 | get what should i do |
| 19:03 | right uh-huh |
| 19:08 | and of course she says i want the head |
| 19:09 | of john the baptist at once on a platter |
| 19:12 | and so she goes running in and what does |
| 19:15 | she do |
| 19:17 | she says i want the head of john the |
| 19:19 | baptist and the text |
| 19:20 | immediately says the king then was |
| 19:23 | exceedingly sorry |
| 19:25 | but because of his oaths and his guests |
| 19:28 | he did not want to break his word to her |
| 19:31 | well he’s not willing to break his word |
| 19:32 | but he’s willing to break god’s word |
| 19:34 | what he should have said to that girl |
| 19:36 | was |
| 19:39 | the commandment says thou shall not |
| 19:41 | murder |
| 19:43 | and no tetrarch has the authority to |
| 19:46 | take |
| 19:46 | a life of another human being without |
| 19:49 | due process |
| 19:52 | but does he listen to the word of god no |
| 19:54 | he decides that he didn’t want to break |
| 19:56 | his word and always isn’t that the |
| 19:58 | problem we idolaters |
| 20:00 | it’s all about what we believe what we |
| 20:02 | think what we think is important and we |
| 20:04 | don’t want to have to lose face |
| 20:06 | because it’s about our words over god’s |
| 20:10 | and immediately then the king sent an |
| 20:12 | executioner with orders to bring john’s |
| 20:13 | head |
| 20:14 | he went and beheaded him in the prison |
| 20:16 | and brought his head on a platter |
| 20:18 | gave it to the girl and the girl gave it |
| 20:20 | to her mother when his disciples heard |
| 20:22 | of it they came and took his body |
| 20:23 | laid it in a tomb terrible end right |
| 20:27 | but you’ll note that john the baptist |
| 20:29 | kept his integrity |
| 20:31 | he went to his grave a righteous and a |
| 20:33 | holy man |
| 20:35 | believing and preaching the truth |
| 20:37 | proclaiming Christ |
| 20:39 | pointing the way to him and god in his |
| 20:41 | mercy allowed |
| 20:42 | for herod and herodias and that girl |
| 20:45 | to hear the preaching of john the |
| 20:48 | baptist but rather than repent rather |
| 20:50 | than be baptized rather than be prepared |
| 20:52 | for the one who was coming |
| 20:54 | by persisting in sin and unbelief and |
| 20:56 | resisting god’s grace |
| 20:58 | they were ill-prepared for the return of |
| 21:00 | Christ and so herod unlike john |
| 21:03 | sadly is going to go to his grave with |
| 21:06 | that evil conscience |
| 21:08 | and you’ll know that’s kind of the |
| 21:10 | difference isn’t it the one who bled and |
| 21:12 | died for him |
| 21:13 | and the fact that Jesus was on the scene |
| 21:16 | didn’t comfort |
| 21:18 | herod it terrified him |
| 21:21 | and each and every one of us we know the |
| 21:23 | terror of that sin |
| 21:24 | of our own sin we know the terror of |
| 21:26 | standing before Christ |
| 21:28 | and see that’s the thing we talk about |
| 21:30 | king Jesus |
| 21:31 | king Jesus well you can kind of take |
| 21:33 | that two different ways |
| 21:34 | if you are an impenitent sinner king |
| 21:36 | Jesus is a figure that scares you |
| 21:40 | but for us who are in Christ and note |
| 21:42 | this we have nothing to boast |
| 21:44 | about nothing it is god who has revealed |
| 21:46 | to us that Jesus is the Christ |
| 21:48 | it is god who has brought us to the |
| 21:50 | waters of baptism and washed away our |
| 21:52 | sins |
| 21:52 | it is god who pronounced today that we |
| 21:54 | were forgiven |
| 21:55 | it is god who is here feeding us with |
| 21:57 | his word and is the |
| 21:59 | father who has revealed to us that Jesus |
| 22:01 | is the Christ the son of the living god |
| 22:03 | and because of that each and every one |
| 22:06 | of us who has an evil conscience because |
| 22:08 | of our own sin |
| 22:10 | we do not need to cower or to fear we do |
| 22:13 | not have to worry |
| 22:14 | regarding Jesus and Jesus isn’t like |
| 22:16 | herod at all |
| 22:17 | because herod who liked to think of |
| 22:19 | himself as some powerful magnanimous and |
| 22:21 | mighty and gracious king |
| 22:23 | he was far from it Jesus actually is all |
| 22:25 | of that |
| 22:26 | in fact he’s the king of kings and he is |
| 22:28 | the lord of lords |
| 22:29 | and even caesar in the time of Jesus’s |
| 22:32 | earthly ministry |
| 22:33 | was in power because Jesus said so |
| 22:38 | and so that being the case consider then |
| 22:40 | the words of our |
| 22:41 | epistle text and these are words that |
| 22:43 | then are to comfort us |
| 22:45 | because each and every one of us we’ve |
| 22:47 | sinned mightily against god |
| 22:49 | it says in our epistle text that god has |
| 22:53 | predestined us |
| 22:54 | in love you see here’s the thing |
| 22:58 | despite our sin god has never given up |
| 23:01 | on us not because we are |
| 23:03 | we’re worth anything we’re not but |
| 23:05 | because of his |
| 23:06 | great love for us in love he pretended |
| 23:10 | retesting each and every one of us to be |
| 23:13 | adopted |
| 23:13 | as sons through Jesus Christ |
| 23:17 | according to the purpose of his will and |
| 23:19 | he has done this to the praise of his |
| 23:21 | glorious grace not ours |
| 23:23 | and he has blessed us in the beloved in |
| 23:27 | Jesus Christ and then listen to these |
| 23:29 | words in Christ |
| 23:31 | we have redemption through his blood and |
| 23:34 | we have received the forgiveness of all |
| 23:36 | of our trespasses |
| 23:38 | according to the riches of his grace |
| 23:41 | what an amazing thing to be spoken |
| 23:45 | to such miserable sinners like you and |
| 23:46 | like me that we have been adopted |
| 23:49 | into the family of god forgiven pardoned |
| 23:52 | redeemed |
| 23:53 | all of our trespasses blotted out by the |
| 23:56 | great |
| 23:57 | love and the riches of god’s grace and |
| 24:00 | he has lavished this upon us in all |
| 24:02 | wisdom and |
| 24:03 | insight and he is making known to us the |
| 24:06 | mystery then of his will |
| 24:08 | the mystery that was set forth in Christ |
| 24:11 | which will be fulfilled in its proper |
| 24:13 | time |
| 24:14 | and then listen to these words in verse |
| 24:15 | 11 in Christ we have obtained |
| 24:18 | an inheritance and here’s where i’d like |
| 24:20 | to point something out that |
| 24:22 | is often missed but one that is worth |
| 24:24 | pointing out |
| 24:25 | and that is is that herod didn’t have |
| 24:27 | the ability to give his step-daughter |
| 24:30 | half of his kingdom and you’re going to |
| 24:33 | note this |
| 24:34 | that Christ has promised each and every |
| 24:36 | one of us an inheritance in his kingdom |
| 24:39 | in fact Christ has willed for us |
| 24:42 | and makes it very clear that he is |
| 24:45 | giving |
| 24:46 | promising and he will fulfill his |
| 24:48 | promise that he is giving the kingdom |
| 24:51 | to us to you and to me |
| 24:55 | how this is possible is unbelievable |
| 24:59 | but the reality is this god’s grace his |
| 25:02 | mercy his forgiveness is that good |
| 25:04 | that rebel sinners like you and i who |
| 25:07 | were born |
| 25:08 | hating Christ and god steeped in |
| 25:11 | trespasses and sins |
| 25:13 | under the dominion of darkness and |
| 25:14 | willingly doing the will of the devil |
| 25:17 | that god has forgiven and pardoned us |
| 25:20 | and not only has he pardoned us he’s |
| 25:23 | adopted us |
| 25:24 | into his family and given us the whole |
| 25:26 | kingdom |
| 25:27 | as an inheritance |
| 25:30 | it’s mind-boggling but it doesn’t speak |
| 25:34 | to how great we are because we’re not |
| 25:36 | it speaks to how great Christ is |
| 25:39 | and what a tragedy it is an utter |
| 25:42 | tragedy |
| 25:43 | that herod herodius and her daughter |
| 25:47 | heard the preaching of john the baptist |
| 25:50 | and yet went to the grave with an evil |
| 25:52 | conscience |
| 25:55 | know this you do not have to have an |
| 25:57 | evil conscience though your sins be as |
| 25:59 | scarlet Christ’s his blood |
| 26:01 | washes away all of them and you are made |
| 26:04 | clean white as snow because of him so |
| 26:07 | know then that Christ isn’t like herod |
| 26:10 | or even caesar he is a loving kind and |
| 26:13 | gracious merciful forgiving king |
| 26:16 | and he can forgive even murder and |
| 26:18 | adultery |
| 26:19 | because he bled and died for all of it |
| 26:21 | on the cross |
| 26:22 | so let us repent of all of our stupid |
| 26:26 | vain chasing after our own glory kind of |
| 26:29 | selves and all the scheming and nonsense |
| 26:31 | that we engage in |
| 26:32 | in order to well make us the center of |
| 26:35 | the universe |
| 26:36 | let us retire from being little deities |
| 26:40 | and let us again renounce the works of |
| 26:43 | the devil |
| 26:44 | that are exemplified in the passions of |
| 26:46 | our sinful flesh |
| 26:48 | and let us worship at the feet of king |
| 26:50 | Jesus |
| 26:51 | the one who so graciously and mercifully |
| 26:53 | forgives us of all of our sins |
| 26:55 | and in his love has lavished on us the |
| 26:58 | inheritance of the kingdom that is to |
| 27:00 | come |
| 27:01 | in the name of Jesus amen |
| If you would like to support the teaching ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church, you can do so by sending a tax-free donation to: Kongsvinger Lutheran Church 15950 470th Ave NW, Oslo, MN 56744 We thank you for your support. All of our teaching messages may be freely distributed as long as you do not edit or change the content of the message, and, again, thank you for listening. |
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